Designing Motherhood's Story

I am Margaret Marshall. In 2013, as I sat in birth preparation class with my husband listening to how I would likely have a difficult time bonding with my child if I had a c-section, I was struck by a funny feeling. I looked at my husband and he looked at me. The information we were given didn’t strike either one of us as unbiased or even scientific. I went home and called my mom, who immediately eased my worries. She reassured me that however my baby came into the world, we would bond.

After we hung up the phone I went into research overload. I found (for myself) there was not one specific resource that was particularly right for me. Over time, I saw that other friends were also struggling trying to adhere to one doctrine or another.

I began to realize women and men need and deserve another option that was not presently accessible.

Parenting is a very individual and intimate process: while we need guidance and resources, we need open encouragement to find our own voice in this new and deeply personal context too.

This can be done through unbiased coaching and facilitation without judgment.

After a decade in the business world, I have decided to switch gears: our mission is to help women discover a holistic approach to modern motherhood.

Certified by

American Heart Association

Gottman Institute

Yoga Alliance

BA from the University of Vermont

I developed Designing Motherhood to assist parents in mindful preparation of childbirth, motherhood, fatherhood and partnership.

I have seen too many woman traumatized by doctrines and cultural “norms” (i.e. breastfeeding pressure, natural birth pressure, returning or not returning to work, dealing with depression, preparation of their bodies and minds for motherhood, and fertility issues).

My practice stems from my compassion and a desire to assist women in mindful parenting and personal happiness.

Support Plans, Coaching and Training Options

Selecting positive examples and approaches from throughout the world, I have created a fully customizable program that recognizes the individual first, without discussing dogmatic prescriptions as integral.

We are on this journey together. I coach you in the lessons I have learned and studied. We develop your personalized process. One that is going to eliminate much of the noise that comes with many current childbirth and mother preparation models. This program is the opposite of others that shame mothers by prescribing specific methods.

Do you desire guidance and connection to the best information and resources, yet still feel lost in the sea of conflicting recommendations out there?

Do you feel strongly there is no place for your “mother’s intuition,” heart or personal desires along this process, leading you to avoid guidance and feel further isolated?

Do you feel overwhelmed by parenthood and need open-minded coaching?

Designing Motherhood is right for anyone who is willing to be open and honest, who wants to prepare for welcoming a child and mindful parenting on their own terms.

What to expect:

Motherhood and preparation for motherhood can leave your mind running in circles.

Coaching will help you gain focus and clarity.

Write birth plans

Organize registry

Recognize that it’s okay for things to go perfectly imperfect

Care less about other people’s opinions; Discover your own voice in motherhood

Eliminate the noise of friends, family, too many books or websites and drill down to your individual needs

This is a time when you will be faced with making many big decisions about your body. Coaching will provide you with objective and compassionate support. These are zero pressure guidance systems designed to empower you.

Help you find liberation to discover, own and be proud of your birth and motherhood choices.

Guide you in quickly creating support systems in your area, ie; I am not a doula but will find you the best one

+ Margaret's Bio ...

I started to recognize a need for a different type of childbirth/parenting education while preparing for the birth of my first child in 2014. As I embarked on my motherhood journey I met mom’s who were either on the giving or receiving end of judgement. After sitting around asking, why does motherhood have to be this way? I began to realize I needed to create something to end the stigma that many of us face (lactation issues, birthing methods, postpartum depression, staying at home, going back to work, disposable diapers vs cloth). Having lived abroad for nearly a decade, I discovered a variety of positive motherhood support systems. I returned to the USA in early 2015 and knew it was time to put my ideas into action. I believe strongly in the power of helping women through the process of mindful and knowledge based decision making that is right for each individual. I have been a practitioner of yoga for a decade and will receive my yoga teacher certification in May 2017. I am grateful to be trained in CPR/Heimlich, and I, encourage every parent to become CPR trained for the safety and security of their family and friends. I am certified as Gottman Bringing Baby Home (BBH) Program Educator. BBH Workshops ™ are designed to help parents to be and new parents learn skills and techniques for a successful transition into parenthood.

Before creating Designing Motherhood, my work focused on supporting growth for entrepreneurs and medium size enterprises through unique combination of community outreach, online platforms and event management both in New York City and South East Asia. I now live in Fairfield County, Connecticut with my husband, young daughter and two kitty furbabies that I rescued while living in Singapore. When I am not focused on my family I can be found planning gourmet meals, partaking in civics discussions, and hatching out travel plans. I am a believer in Yin and Yang. Admittedly, I am a viewer of Bravo and a listener of NPR. Lastly, and most importantly I must give credit where credit is due, to my own mom. Without her wisdom, honesty, and common sense I would not be the mom today.

Margaret is a graduate of the University of Vermont.

+ Matthew's Bio ...

My strong interest in science lead me to attend Holy Name Nursing school in Teaneck, NJ. In 2014 having spent eight years working in the Emergency Room at Holy Name I switched gears to focus on medical training. Taking a position with Insitute for Simulation Learning at Holy Name. I have a passion for providing high quality CPR Heart Saver and BLS training.

When I am not teaching others I can be found taking in nature and spending time with my goddaughter and young niece.

+ Olivia's Bio ...

I attended college at SUNY New Paltz where I studied Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication, Media, Marketing and honed my art skills as a Studio Art minor. In 2010, I earned my MA in Childhood Education.I was first introduced to mindfulness when my oldest children were 2 and 3 years old. I was a single mother at the time. I had married, divorced, given birth to two little girls and earned a graduate degree all in a whirlwind between the ages of 28 and 32. To say my life was propelling along in a very unmindful fashion is an understatement. I reached a point where I sat in a crossroads, I could continue on as is and not be the mom or the person I wanted to be; or I could make a change. I blindly booked a 5 day overnight Mindfulness retreat at Monastery. I had that feeling that I really needed a vacation. But, my desire was not at all to socialize, party, travel or even relax. I knew I needed something more; rejuvenating, cleansing. I put my everything on hold. I arranged for my kids to stay with relatives, ignoring all dogma popping into my mind, that this is not what ‘good moms’ do.

After the retreat, I knew I had embarked on the first chapter of my new journey. My career took a turn and I found ways to infuse mindfulness into my teaching, my art, my writing and most importantly it became a practice I aimed to immerse myself in and share with others daily.

After teaching and becoming a SAHM, I have done more and more writing. I have written and published articles, blog posts, poetry and more about mindfulness and child development over the past 5 years. Our business, Copygoat Media is an wellness and development copy, marketing & design organization. We provide our clients with quality copy and design services to support the businesses that match our philosophy of living mindfully, attaining well being, health and development.

I offer writing services through https://copygoatmedia.com/
I also publish a weekly newsletter and parenting website www.coldspring.macaronikid.com, and scribe my own parenting journey poetically on www.facebook.com/575, a personal blog.